CED Grant Application Review Toolkit
The OCS Grant Application Review Toolkit contains a comprehensive collection of resources for the PAM, SAM, and Panel Chairperson. The intent of the toolkit is to communicate consistent expectations about what the application reviews entail and to facilitate an efficient and effective application review process. The resources are grouped to address different aspects of the grant application review process—an overview of the process and roles, the logistics of the review process, and the actual application reviews, including a section for ARM materials. A final section identifies products that will be limited to PAMs and SAMs.
- Overview resources
- Funding Opportunity Announcement: The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Community Economic Development (CED) program is the cornerstone document for the grant application review process.
- OCS Application Review Process Map: This document provides a detailed depiction of the review process for each application file from the kick-off meeting to PAM approval.
- Roles and Responsibilities for Panel Members, Panel Chairs, SAMs, and PAMs: This document identifies the responsibilities and expectations of each person involved in the application review process. It is based on the role each person has in the review, and it includes availability, turn-around times, and key tasks.
- Communication andCoordinationresources
- Kick-off Call Agenda template:This document is a template that identifies key topics the SAM should discuss during the kick-off call with the Panel Chair.
- Contact Information template: The document is a template for collecting the information for each Panel, including for the panel members, Chair, SAM, and PAM. It also contains contact information for ARM technical support, which is standard for all Panels.
- Schedule/Timeline template: This document contains a template for the schedule for all application reviews, Panel Summary Report (PSR) due dates, and conference calls/panel discussions, both in a calendar format as well as a timeline for each application laid out by task.
- SAM to Chair Outreach Email example: This is an example of an outreach email that SAMs can use to make initial contact with the Chair of each of their panels. It introduces the SAM and seeks to set up an initial phone call.
- Application Review and Panel Summary Report resources
- Checklist of FOA Evaluation Criteria and Subcriteria: This document identifies the criteria and subcriteria, as written in the FOA, in a checklist format to ensure that application reviewers address each requirement. It can be used as a preliminary, note-taking document prior to entering information in the ARM.
- Panel member and Panel Chair training slides: This training must be completed prior to the start of the review by all Panel Members and Panel Chairs. This training is available on the online reviewer site. It is used in conjunction with the FOA to conduct grant application reviews.
- Checklist for Reviewing the Panel Summary Reports (PSRs): This document has five concise checklists to ensure the panel member’s input is complete, the PSR has accurate scores and relevant comments, and the PSR meets high quality standards and adheres to style guide conventions.
- ARM System resources
- ARM System training. This training is developed by the ARM system developer.
- Limited Distribution Resources
- ACF Grant Review Handbook: The Handbook, developed with the ACF Grant Review Workgroup comprised of representatives from each ACF program office, is to be used by all ACF program offices. Program Offices must incorporate guidance provided within the document in their grant reviews.
- Daily Progress Report template: This resource identifies the information that needs to be collected and reported by the SAM during the daily phone calls with PAMs.
- SAM training slides: This training is required for SAMs and PAMs. It is used in conjunction with the FOA to review the PSRs to ensure the grant application reviews are thorough and accurate.
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